Truth, Love, Emotion...Thoughts of JRR4FILM

Rest in Peace, Armand Barbone (1982 - 2011)

2011-01-16T08:18:00.000-05:00

Armand at PYT, on my birthday, 09/03/2010.

Armand, on one of our many trips to McGillins, singing his heart out, 08/16/2010.

Armand, at McGillins, on my birthday, 09/03/2008.

I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s the sheer shock of it all. My heart is heavy, but not broken. Maybe it’s the fact I know that you were a good friend. My best, by far. You always were there for me when I wanted to satisfy my hunger for karaoke. So many times we went to McGillin’s together, the only ones who seem to take it seriously (at least the only sane ones). I loved that we took it seriously, always did something different, always challenged ourselves to do something out of the ordinary.

I watched you grow through those meetings. You had a dedication and passion that was quiet, but strong. You wanted to sing your heart out and I believed you found a place where you did every time you went on that small stage in the corner of the bar. It might have been low in volume at times, but I blame the sound system for that.

I also saw how you tackled your personal life. Things might have hit you from different angles, but you always found ways to live your life fully and happily. College was a quiet triumph for you. It took you forever, but you had no doubt. I believed you needed to take it light a few semesters and deal with some financial issues. You worked at Target for that sole purpose. But, you did it. Last month, you accomplished that goal. Congratulations, man. I never got to say that to you.

You were a proud father. You relished the times you spent with Jake. He looked just like you, right down to the signature glasses (did he wear those glasses all the time, or did I just see a picture where you let him wear yours?). I wished I got the chance to meet him through your personal introduction. Truly meet him, if you ever did bring him to Target, all those years ago.

That’s how I met you. You were a hard-ass specialist and team leader. Before we got to hang out, it was always a mixed bag of someone who was cool and someone who was just so annoying with how he bosses everyone around. Now, I know you were one of the best leaders Target had, especially in recent years when the leadership has been declining quite drastically.

I always remember that time we hung out at T.G.I. Friday’s for a drink. It was after I transferred to a different store. You told me that you never really hung out with team members lower than you because you didn’t think it was professional. To some, that may have sounded hard, but I understood what you meant. You wanted to be a cool person, but knew of boundaries and ethics. Such an upstanding young man! You then said it would be cool if we did hang out more. I’m grateful that you did reach out to me. A start to a beautiful friendship.

I think, once it hits me, that’s what I will miss the most: the friendship. I never had to doubt it. You were a good friend. An awesome friend. My best. I wished I hung out with you more in the last month, instead of silently boycotting McGillin’s for how that waitress treated us the last time we went there. Honestly, I was ready to go back. You would have been the first person I called. I’ve told nearly every single person that when talking about you. “He would’ve been the first person I called.”

(“A start to a beautiful friendship.” So, it does hit me.)

Armand, I just wanted to let you know that I love you, man. Guys aren’t supposed to say that to each other in our culture, but I should have said that to you at least once in your lifetime. You deserved it. You deserve all the love in the world because you gave it. You gave your heart to your friends, your son, your family, your job, and to your singing. You can see that in your voice when you sang. For the record, you were always the better singer.

Rest in Peace, Armand. You were a good man. Every single life that you touched knows it. You must be in a better place. May all the happiness and love you deserve wait for you there. Love you.

Karaoke Secret Santa - Consideration #1 - Time Zones and Deadlines

2009-12-21T01:25:00.005-05:00

Christmas in America isn't Christmas in Australia...and Vice Versa

As we tire to make our Karaoke Secret Santa gift great for our Secret Santa recipient, there is one thing we must consider:

When should we deliver our gifts (links)?

This may seem like an obvious answer: Christmas! But, keep in mind that Christmas in part of the world may not be Christmas in another. Or Christmas may have already passed for 12 hours or more.

This consideration is more important for Secret Santas in America sending links to Australia, but can affect Secret Santas sending links across America. When it turns 12AM Christmas morning in Philadelphia, PA, USA, for example, some in Australia would already be at 4PM Christmas afternoon, while those in Los Angeles, CA, USA would still be at 9PM Christmas Eve.

Why is this? Well, the simple answer is that Australia is closer to the International Date Line, moving from the imaginary line to the west. Philadelphia, PA, USA is farther west and Los Angeles, CA, USA, slightly farther.

So, while we prepare our songs, record our videos, upload onto YouTube and send out the links, we have to be mindful that we want to send our links to our Secret Santa recipients by 12AM Christmas Day, that is when it turns that time where our Secret Santas are located.

We can approach this in one or two ways:

1) Everyone must send out their link by:

8AM, December 24, 2009, East Coast, USA
5AM, December 24, 2009, West Coast, USA OR
12AM, December 25, 2009, Hobart, Australia ***

This way, everyone will receive their links before Christmas, regardless of location.

Or we can do:

2) Everyone calculate the times of their Secret Santa recipients for 12AM Christmas Day and send the links out to them by that time.

Either way, the important thing is to make sure our Secret Santa recipients receive their personally homemade Karaoke video gifts by Christmas. I shall leave that decision up to you!

Hope everyone is having fun with this!

Peace,
Joe R.
Karaoke Secret Santa Administrator

KARAOKE SECRET SANTA - Steps to Prevent Faulty RSVP or Accidental Wishlist Overwrite

2009-12-08T12:54:00.005-05:00

HOW TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING:

1) Receive an e-mail invite (Send your e-mails to jrr4film@gmail.com)

2) Follow the link on the e-mail invite and register on SecretSanta.com.

3) Once registered, ensure you're on the Secret Santa gift exchange page and have not clicked it via an external link shared online.

4) RSVP *FIRST*

5) Then, post Wishlist. (I'm theorizing this prevents overwriting someone else's Wishlist.)

6) Review page to see that you've moved from the "INVITEE" list to the "PARTICIPANT" list and that your Wishlist has submitted properly.

Log in occasionally to see that your Wishlist has not been accidentally replaced and that everything is going swimmingly. I will do so myself. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, or still experience problems, please send e-mails to KaraokeSecret@gmail.com or jrr4film@gmail.com A.S.A.P.

Thanks and hope you guys enjoy this global holiday event!

Love is...the FIRST ANNUAL JRR4FILM INTERNATIONAL KARAOKE SECRET SANTA!

2009-12-07T16:50:00.005-05:00

A Universal, Musical Twist on the Holiday Gift Tradition

Interested? Send e-mail to jrr4film@gmail.com for official invite!

A couple weeks ago, I realized Christmas was just around the corner and wanted to do something special this year, but something different. Since I love going out and performing Karaoke, one idea was to invite a whole bunch of people that I knew to a local Karaoke joint and do a drawing throughout, creating random duets and having people perform together. The list of friends who actually enjoyed doing karaoke as much as I do is minimal, but I thought it'll still be fun.

I also had this strange desire to do something different with the Secret Santa tradition: broaden the Secret Santa reach to the entire world. Why only share the random gift of giving to just a group of friends or a group of office colleagues? Why limit the possibilities to physical merchandise that you have to ship across continents? I mean, attempting to pull off a worldwide Secret Santa, without boundaries and open to anyone, is an arduous, maybe impossible task, especially considering the varying degrees of shipping costs and delivery times.

However, inspired by the soaring popularity and accessibility of YouTube, the surprising success of online singing sensations (think Susan Boyle or Julia Nunes), and my personal love (and some say obsession) of Karaoke, I've found a way to kick the Secret Santa up another notch, while being realistic about the ability of people around the world to follow through with it.

Thus, I present to you:

KARAOKE SECRET SANTA

The idea of the Karaoke Secret Santa are for the participants to give each other personal YouTube videos, in lieu of physical gifts. These videos are determined by the participant's Wishlist, which is comprised of answers to certain questions, such as:

Favorite Artist?
Favorite Broadway Show?
Favorite Christmas Song?

Once the Secret Santas are drawn, participants will view their partner's wishlist, choose a song that applies to their musical tastes or wishes, and create a homemade Karaoke video. Once done, the video is uploaded to YouTube and the link is delivered to the gift recipient before Christmas. Then, on Christmas morning participants will open their mailbox and see their wonderful gift: your heart and soul poured into a personalized Karaoke video!

So, please, if you haven't already, join us in spreading Holiday cheer and love in a very unique way this year! If you know anyone who would be interested in doing this, please send their e-mails my way at jrr4film@gmail.com, so I may send an invite.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

International Karaoke Secret Santa - Hiccup REVEALED!

2009-12-02T03:51:00.008-05:00

So, coordinating an International Karaoke Secret Santa in the middle of the night, though it brought about the crazy thinking to create it, may not be an entirely great idea to fully follow through with it.

I chose the first Secret Santa site I saw and already I've found some glitches. Like the inability to easily send a link of the page to invitees to check out. You NEED AN E-MAIL to send proper invites.

But, to make the matter worse, the link I did send out to like a bunch of people, has an RSVP Button that DOES NOT WORK! So, even if you were being nice enough to respond, I wouldn't get any notice and you'd get a notice that an RSVP has been sent. Not to assume you did, but if you did, I wouldn't even know!

^ Yeah, don't follow this. I need your E-MAILS to invite!

^ I won't get any notice of anything if you push those buttons on this link. You'll be informed you sent notice, but I won't get anything.

Truth, Love and Emotion are...Regina Spektor, "Laughing With", on Conan O'Brien

2009-07-31T10:51:00.005-04:00

From The Audio Perv

I caught the tail-end of this last night on TV and it didn't take me too long to realize it was Regina Spektor. Her singular voice is appropriately supplemented by unconventional melodies or lyrics. Hearing "No one laughs at God" repeated was proof of that. After watching the whole performance, I must say the song is brilliantly composed and written. For all intensive purposes, the chords and the music themselves are relatively standard, though they are reminiscent of a Coldplay ballad or the start of a Radiohead piece. But, it's the lyrics, the melodies of the lyrics and Regina Spektor's wonderful delivery which make the song beautifully unique. Try singing the "hook" of the song three times fast. (To be punny... "Ha ha")

"Laughing With" is bold, emotional and honest, without being in your face or abrasive. For me, it tells the tale of someone who believes in the love and existence of God, even in the deepest darks of life, while keeping a sense of humor and perspective about it.

Lyrics to "Laughing With" by Regina Spektor
from Elyrics.net

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late
And their kid’s not back from the party yet

No one laughs at God
When their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they’re mistaken

No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news, sir
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine or fire or flood

*Chorus*
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’ve lost all they’ve got
And they don’t know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughing at God in hospital
No one’s laughing at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very
poor

No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God

Love is...She & Him (or My late discovery of...)

2009-07-27T16:22:00.002-04:00

From their official site: http://www.sheandhim.com/

I first heard about this duo from an Entertainment Weekly article. I was struck with what seemed to me as their perfect name (vague and unique, but catchy) and was surprised that Zooey Deschanel, best known as a young talented actress, was branching out into a credible independent music venture. I read the article, for sure, but did not hear any of their music until now, over a year after the release of their first album, Volume One.

Zooey Deschanel's unique voice combined with M. Ward's production creates a musical sound that is bouncy in the old-fashioned sense, harkening back to an era of music that escapes me (is it 60s? Motown? Country? someone help me out!). Deschanel's songwriting skills are also highlighted, confident, yet simple and straightforward:

"Cried all night until there was nothing more
What use am I as a heap on the floor?
Heaving devotion but it's just no good
Taking it hard just like you knew I would

Old habits die hard
When you got, when you got a sentimental heart
Piece of the puzzle and you're my missing part
Oh, what can you do with a sentimental heart?"

-from "Sentimental Heart"

It's an album you could put on for a lazy summer day and listen straight through. I don't think there's a misstep along the way. It's a beautiful album.

http://www.myspace.com/sheandhim

Here is a nice visual accompaniment to the song "Sentimental Heart" that I found on YouTube:

Love is...First Asian Boy

2009-07-22T00:00:00.003-04:00

Of course, I'm late on the train of this one, which already has a million and half views, but gotta love the Asian representation.

American Boy Parody - "First Asian Boy"

Love is...the Emmy nominated FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS! (aka For Your Consideration: Jemaine Clement, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series)

2009-07-17T20:24:00.008-04:00

Image from http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/ic/blogs/channelsurfing/uploaded_images/conchords-721785.jpg

Saw a news story the other day on the recently announced Emmy Awards and was pleasantly surprised. No, not because there seems to be an increase of nominations (7 each for Comedy and Drama Series; 6 each for performers) or because Family Guy was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series (though that is refreshing).

No, it's because the little musical comedy show that could, Flight of the Conchords, was nominated! Plus, one of its stars, Jemaine Clement, (the one with the long sideburns and retro glasses) was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

Congrats to the group from Brit- I mean, Austra- I mean New Zealand!

When I think of Jemaine Clement for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, I think of these scenes (oddly enough):

Flight of the Conchords - Bret's Day (from addictedtoflight)

"So you didn't get the bread?...'Cause I've been sitting here with my sandwich fillings all ready..."

Flight of the Conchords: Jemaine sleeps with an Australian girl (from integrajoey)

"Either she's Australian...or she really loves Australia..."

Flight of the Conchords was also nominated in the other creative awards, including Outstanding Directing ("The Tough Brets"), Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics ("Carol Brown", outstanding choice), Outstanding Sound Mixing ("Unnatural Love") and Outstanding Writing ("Prime Minister").

Love is...4th of July Party at the Parkway in Philadelphia, PA

2009-07-09T21:05:00.007-04:00

What a wonderful celebration that occurred last Saturday, July 4th, in Philadelphia, PA! From my viewpoints, it was a relatively civil and extremely fun night for everyone in attendance. My brother and I drove downtown and found inexpensive parking in a garage by 16th and Spring, which ultimately bit us in the ass later as everyone parked there and had to wait over an hour to leave.

Besides that, we went to Logan Circle where kids were enjoying the public fountain. We took random pictures, attempted both obscure pictures of ourselves and overt self-portraits, and continued to walk up the parkway:

There was a stop at the falafel vendor (my brother had falafel, I had a fajita pita) and then off to the stage. There, we found a spot by the metal barriers separating the seated section (apparently for city workers) and saw the Jeffrey Gaines performance. Very minimal, just him and a guitar, no backup band or lighting design:

Then, we were lucky to have ran into an old family friend volunteering inside the seated section who hooked us fellow Filipinos up with a slightly better view with the added bonus of a seat to chill in!

It was the Roots' turn and they did NOT disappoint! Being that they were hometown peoples, we showed them extra love. Their approximately 30 minute set was essentially a high energy jam session of about four of their songs, including another epic re-interpretation of their hit single, "You Got Me":

Love those musical references seamlessly inserted into the solo! Captain Kirk, kill it!

Then came Sheryl Crow, whose set was a hefty one, about an hour and a half, but she performed just as wonderfully, really getting the crowd into her surprisingly deep repertoire of feel-good hits. One song in particular shocked the s**t out of me, as I had never heard it and it was a rollicking and meaningful piece:

"If we could only get out of our heads...and into our hearts..." Apparently this song was inspired by a speech by the Dalai Lama.

Then, came the fireworks, which was the most spectacular display I've seen. It helps that we were essentially directly under it and had a great view:

I especially loved those fireworks which disperse in various directions! "Whoo-hoo!"

All in all, an incredibly fun night put together by the City of Philadelphia (and wondefully emceed by our mayor, Michael Nutter!). All had a great time and I hope all got home safely and without incident. ;-D

Love is...Michael Jackson...Remember the Time

2009-07-03T22:08:00.005-04:00

Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

(Image from http://www.jabulela.com/files/images/michael-jackson-concert-2.jpg)

The final song in this week-long tribute to Michael Jackson comes from the Dangerous album. I can't say much about the production and musical side of the song, but I can say that "Remember the Time" is an energetic, upbeat song. Yes, formulaic and cliched ("Do you remember the time, when we fell in love?), but in the hands of Michael Jackson, the song becomes an instant classic. The entire ending where Michael Jackson improvs and scats like a machine gun is ridiculous.

Here is, to me, the memorable performance at the Soul Train music awards. Jackson is relegated to dancing in a chair after hurting his ankle, but generates a loud ovation when he stands for, literally, two seconds.

REMEMBER THE TIME by Michael Jackson

Conclusion

There you have it: I can go on and on and on and on about the many songs and aspects of Michael Jackson's life that has touched mine. Amidst his death, though there are millions of positive and understanding fans, there is also a barrage of cynicism and hate towards Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson was not perfect, but neither are any of us. Many forget that, despite being a high-profile worldwide celebrity, he was still a human being, deserving, if not of our sympathies, at the very least, our respect. That is why I have dedicated these posts to his music and to the influential positive impact that they have had on me and, I'm sure, on millions across the world, across generations. I hope that my small attempt at this, along with the millions and millions of fan-made tributes out there, outweighs the sensational, exploitative and disrespectful comments and coverage, made by media and individuals alike. May Michael Jackson Rest in Peace and his family, friends and fans find comfort at this time.

Love is...Michael Jackson...Heal the World

2009-07-03T21:10:00.007-04:00

Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

(Image from http://www.jabulela.com/files/images/michael-jackson-concert-2.jpg)

Today's song comes from the Dangerous album. "Heal the World" is an overtly optimistic song about love, charity and positive social change. As a result of the completely positive nature of the song, without one iota of irony or cynicism, the song can often be taken as cheesy and ridiculous. But, Michael Jackson, both in the production and in every performance of the song, completely commits to the material and you can't help but to appreciate and bask in the wholesome goodness that "Heal the World" is. Not only is the song well-intentioned, but it spawned a charitable organization aiming to improve the lives of children.

Ultimately, I do believe that with this song, Michael Jackson had a genuine wish to improve the world, especially for the children.

Here is the epic performance from the 1993 Super Bowl, with Michael at the pinnacle of his popularity. I don't think anyone has done anything like this, and if they have, they haven't done it like Michael Jackson did it:

HEAL THE WORLD by Michael Jackson

Lyrics from elyrics.net

Love is...Michael Jackson...Stranger in Moscow

2009-07-03T20:10:00.006-04:00

Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

(Image from http://www.jabulela.com/files/images/michael-jackson-concert-2.jpg)

Today's song comes from the HIStory album. This was a late single, following "Scream", "You are Not Alone", "Earth Song" and "They Don't Care About Us", but "Stranger in Moscow" was a favorite of mine as soon as I heard it. Even as a young boy, I remember digging into the personal, introspective lyrics and music. (HIStory came out 1995, making me ten years old at the time) As an older young man, the song holds up, both literally as a document of Michael's experiences touring in Moscow during the height of the child abuse accusations and as a metaphor for anyone feeling disconnected or isolated in the world.

"I was wandering in the rain
Mask of life, feelin' insane
Swift and sudden fall from grace
Sunny days seem far away"

The song itself is simple, yet layered, driven by a constant percussive beat and subtly accented by piano, saxophone (?), guitar and ambient sounds. The chorus conveys the driving question:

How does it feel (How does it feel)
How does it feel
How does it feel
When you're alone
And you're cold inside

...while the song slightly builds up to a cathartic climax. The result is a carefully produced expression of loneliness and despair.

The subsequent music video is a beautiful visual companion. The video appears to be finely developed still images among a slow moving and uncaring black and white world. We see various strangers alone, but in the video, they ultimately appear together in the loneliness. Ironic, yet impressive, that Michael Jackson is able to connect and relate with feelings of alienation and loneliness.

Without further ado:

STRANGER IN MOSCOW by Michael Jackson

Lyrics from elyrics.net
Wikipedia Article on the Song

Love is...Michael Jackson...Will You Be There

2009-06-30T19:38:00.002-04:00

Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

(Image from http://www.jabulela.com/files/images/michael-jackson-concert-2.jpg)

Today's song comes from the Dangerous and Soundtrack to Free Willy. A gospel-infused call for hope and love through difficult times, Michael aims to touch your heart and let you know that someone out there cares and believes in you.

Once again, this was the first song to come to mind when I learned Michael Jackson died, an old memory from grade school when my brother's class sang it for a Saint Veronica function. I remember holding the computer printout of the lyrics and reading it over myself. And though it's a repeat post of the video, this was one of the songs that personally affected me:

WILL YOU BE THERE by Michael Jackson

Lyrics from elyrics.net
Further Exploration of the Song's Meaning

A comment on the full album version: Apparently, there was a lengthy introduction that uses elements of Beethoven's Ode to Joy to set the tone at the beginning. Though I find it particularly dramatic and reinforcing of the spiritual and divine tone of the music, I think its absence in subsequent radio and video edits does not hurt the song one bit.

Full Album Version:

Love is...Michael Jackson...Earth Song

2009-06-29T10:53:00.004-04:00

Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

(Image from http://www.jabulela.com/files/images/michael-jackson-concert-2.jpg)

All this week, I will be paying tribute to Michael Jackson by highlighting songs and videos that have personally affected me, being a later generation MJ fan, experiencing the phenomenons known as Dangerous and HIStory (which in retrospect was perfect in introducing a new generation, that included me, to his body of work).

The first song I will be highlighting is "Earth Song", from his epic multi-disc album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. When I first heard this song, I was amazed by the fact the chorus was, essentially, non-existent (for all you John Mayer fans, think "Clarity"). The song itself is ingeniously structured. It starts in a calm, soft tone, the dynamics of the piece slightly changing for the painful wail of the non-chorus, finally crescendoing into a call-and-response ending that highlights the various injustices of the world (this all before the "Inconvenient Truth" phenomenon of recent years):

"What about forest trails
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(what about us)
What about the holy land
(what about it)
Torn apart by creed
(what about us)"

The video itself, as all of Michael Jackson's videos, was epic, ambitious, and incredibly well made. Two main images struck me when watching the video. One was that of Michael and the other areas of the world falling to their knees, almost simultaneously, seemingly connecting with the battered earth together, beautifully edited to the music, like a simple choreographed dance. The other image, of course, is that of the earth rebuilding itself, correcting some of the wrongs of humanity upon nature (trees rising up again, a shot elephant regaining life, violence being reversed in a "holy land").

Now, without further ado:

EARTH SONG by Michael Jackson

Wikipedia Article: Earth Song
Lyrics from Lyricsfreak.com

JRR4FILM'S To Do List - Weekend of 6/26 - 6/28

2009-06-26T23:26:00.003-04:00

Pay Tribute to the King of Pop

Also: My Personal Tribute
Celebrate Nik's 4th Birthday!!!
Listen/Dance to his music

Also: Thriller album by Michael Jackson

Shared via AddThis

Rest in Peace, Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T00:09:00.004-04:00

I was downtown around 12th and Chestnut. I just parked my car, but needed some change. I went to a Deli and my friend was only able to squeeze a dollar worth of quarters from the cashier. As I walked out, a Russian or Eastern European patron walks in and randomly says to me, or anyone around him, in a matter-of-fact tone:

Michael Jackson is dead.

My initial reaction was to scoff. For a nanosecond, I thought this guy was one of those characters downtown that say random absurd things. But, then, I stopped. I didn't hear any news of him being a coma, suffering from cardiac arrest, or being airlifted to an L.A. hospital. But, for some reason, without any reasonable belief to believe it, somehow I did. I don't know if it was the tone of the man, if there was an indicating silence in the room, or if it was some weird instinct, but I knew it was true. I asked:

Me: "Are you serious?"
Man: "Yeah, they just confirmed it."
Me: "What?"

Another man, an African American patron, did not blink and nodded emphatically.

This is how I found out that Michael Jackson had died.

I can't quote or cover enough of his life realistically to create a comprehensive tribute, but I can tell you my personal thoughts. I was a fan of Michael Jackson when I was younger. I remember when he had injured his leg and almost missed a performance at one of the Awards shows. But, he somehow made it, singing in a chair on stage and during his performance, he stands up for 2 seconds and the crowd, and myself at home, goes nuts.

I also remember in grade school, there was a teacher at Saint Veroncia's whom was obsessed with Michael Jackson. She even made my brother's entire class learn one of his songs and perform it at a talent show of sorts in the Church hall. It was this song that came to mind in the moments after learning about his death:

I bought his HIStory album (on multiple cassettes at the time), wanted to buy his Blood on the Dance Floor album and was intrigued by his Invincible album. I'm amazed that even young people in the current generation, whom has never seen the "King of Pop" in the pinnacle of his career, before the controversy, before the eccentric behavior, are still able to appreciate and love his music. He was transcendent and has influenced music and pop culture throughout his life and career. Current hit stars, Ne-yo, Chris Brown, Usher, Justin Timberlake and countless others tried to emulate him.

But, no one, in my memory, has been able to capture that ability to create popular music that was commercially successful and catchy, as well as being socially relevant, emotionally personal and significantly influential, not just to musicians, but to people at large. You had, "Billlie Jean", a dance track that was a social commentary. "Man in the Mirror", a call to himself and/or the world to better themselves from within. "Heal the World", "Will You Be There", "Earth Song", etc., etc., etc. Most of, if not all, of Michael Jackson's music had meaning and substance, something that is lacking in current mainstream music nowadays.

Reflecting on his death, I realize that I had always had this subconscious hope that he would come back, that he would create something that would overpower the recent controversies and return him to that public figure, that genuine man, who wanted to positively impact the world. I wanted him to do it because I guess I've always felt this man, deep inside, was inherently good and I wanted to see Michael Jackson find some redemption. It's a shame that he wasn't able to do that.

Rest in Peace, Michael Jackson. I hope your message of love and hope can overcome the cynicism that is so prevalent in the world today.

Love is...Oscars Top Prize Becomes a Top Ten

2009-06-25T00:41:00.009-04:00

Hailing back to the good old days and most likely responding to recent criticisms of Academy's eccentric choice, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced that for the 2010 Academy Awards, the Oscar Best Picture field will boast 10 nominees! Some immediate reaction have people poking fun at the idea (Jimmy Fallon: "Just what the Academy needs: more losers") or denouncing it as awful (Pardon the Interruption's Tony Kornheiser).

Now, while it may look as tedious and patronizing to some, I feel that it offers an opportunity for the Academy Awards to fully celebrate the beautiful diversity of great cinema. Academy president Sid Ganis himself said that this expanded Best Picture category allows the Academy to "recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize". How refreshing is it that the Academy is admitting to having to omit great achievements in film each year, as opposed to standing by its nominee list as absolute.

Last year, many have criticized the Academy harshly for snubbing The Dark Knight, as well as Wall-E, arguably a groundbreaking achievement in animation. This year, they may have found a way to atone for those and other past sins. With ten nominees, the Academy will have greater flexibility to honor great animated films, independent sleeper hits, epic action blockbusters, comedies (for crying out loud), as well as its traditional emotional or historical drama fare. Just think: movies like UP, Nine, The Lovely Bones, Avatar (James Cameron's sci-fi film), Funny People and Star Trek could all be advertising themselves as "Nominated for Best Picture" once 2010 comes around.

There are some potential pitfalls, but the Academy is a smart and inherently creative (get it?) organization and I believe they can overcome them. For example, I believe the Academy can find a creative way to honor all ten Best Picture nominees while not cutting into the other technical categories. Focusing non-award montages, calling upon the nominated editors to package a tight highlight reel of the nominated films, and generally consolidating the telecast (let's clean up that opening number, Hugh Jackman) can do the trick. Also, having ten nominees doesn't create more losers, at least it shouldn't in the industry's eyes. Instead it should create more recognition and celebration for films normally not recognized by the Academy. Now, it's up to the Academy themselves to resist the need to nominate only obscure, critically acclaimed films as contenders (think The Reader multiplied by 6).

If they do this and genuinely spread the love around (I really don't think nominating Star Trek would necessarily be a great idea, just an example), I think this idea will prove to be innovative and wonderful to all those who love and are passionate about the art of filmmaking.

P.S. Think how great this idea turned out to be: Past winners honor current nominees in the 2009 Oscars

The Academy press release: "82nd Academy Awards® to Feature 10 Best Picture Nominees"

JRR4FILM'S To Do List - Weekend 6/19/09 - 6/21/09

2009-06-19T13:57:00.002-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANT!
KARAOKE, if you have the time!

Part 2: http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/blogs/2009/06/rush-limbaugh-karaoke/
Do something with your father, if you're fortunate enough to! If not, find a male who has filled that role and take 'em out. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

See the wonderful official video, beautiful tribute to father and son: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQvk_c_LnUg

Love is...Mare by The Black Eyed Peas (Pinoy Pride!)

2009-06-18T12:13:00.004-04:00

I'm not the best poster child for Filipino pride. I've only indulged in the Filipino cuisine growing up in my Lolo and Lola's (grandparents) household and then my parents'. But whenever I hear good news coming from a person of Filipino descent, I usually smile and feel that pride.

So, when my bro introduced me to this track, I couldn't help but smile widely. A member of The Black Eyed Peas, Allan Pineda Lindo a.k.a. apl.de.ap, is Filipino and have been contributing some Filipino culture to The Black Eyed Peas music. "Mare" is the latest example, coming from their recent release, The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies). It's a pumping electronic dance song in the vein of N.E.R.D.'s "Everybody Nose" geared towards love for Filipinas and laced with Tagalog lyrics.

The Black Eyed Peas - Mare

Another example, "The Apl Song", from their 2004 release, Elephunk, features a chorus in Tagalog, honors Apl's homeland and pays tribute to Filipino war veterans:

Black Eyed Peas - The Apl Song

Link below is the full music video, which I couldn't embed. Definitely check it out, though!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CtBSm8tOLg

Love is...Horacio...or Horatio Sanz

2009-06-17T13:59:00.004-04:00

Horatio Sanz visited the Jimmy Fallon show last night and showed a substantially slimmer figure and a more reserved and controlled disposition than I remembered him during his Saturday Night Live days (which is the last I saw of him).

Check out his "Telemundo show". Besides a smile in the beginning, he sticks with the "Horacio" character and doesn't break (unlike Jimmy, though the tiny break here is better than usual). Maybe part of it was editing, but I think he committed nicely.

For Your Consideration - Pedro Feliz, Phillies' Unsung Hero

2009-06-15T23:09:00.002-04:00

Take a look at the current All-Star Standings:

RANK	PLAYER NAME	NL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	David Wright	Mets	1,256,736
2.	Ryan Zimmerman	Nationals	920,780
3.	Chipper Jones	Braves	864,017
4.	Pedro Feliz	Phillies	792,123
5.	Bill Hall	Brewers	705,978

Pedro Feliz, trailing way behind at under 800,000 votes. It's a shame, because, I believe, Pedro Feliz is having an incredible first half of the season. Feliz is a given when it comes to defense at 3rd base. So much so, he is taken for granted. Much like his For Your Consideration teammate, Raul Ibanez, he performs solidly on a daily basis and doesn't indulge in high praise. However, Feliz differs from Ibanez in that he does not get enough recognition for his work.

But, besides being able to rely on Feliz on his defensive capabilities, he has shown substantial improvement in his hitting. I know that watching the Phillies during the Playoffs and World Series run last year, when Feliz came up, I was less than enthused about our chances to get a base hit. I know that I was surprised when he and Ruiz contributed to critical hits during the World Series.

However, this year is different. When Pedro Feliz comes to the plate, even with 2 outs, I have a feeling that he'll be able to make contact and at least get on base. Consider the following:

Career Batting Avg coming into the 2009 season = .254
2008 Batting Avg. = .249
Current 2009 Batting Avg. coming into June 16, 2009 = .318 (+.064, Career; +.069 2008)

2008 On Base Percentage (OBP) = .302
Current 2009 OBP = .365 (+.063 2008)

2008 BA/RISP = .245
Current 2009 BA/RISP = .368 (+.123 2008!)

Last year's Total RBI's = 58
So far this year = 35

Pedro Feliz has significantly improved his numbers from last year and compared to his career is having an excellent year so far. The writers over at Daily News Live do not believe his numbers will stick, but I'm optimistic that Feliz will continue his roll, just as long as he stays patient at the plate and makes the right decisions (from what I see, that's what he's doing).

Now, I know he's not an "All-Star" in the traditional sense, but he deserves much more credit than he's receiving. I know I've given him some by voting for him each time for 3B, even though I know that the probability of him being selected by the fan vote is slim to none. Heck, I don't even give Werth or Rollins that consideration (they really are struggling for the most part in the first half).

In any case, Pedro Feliz is one of Phillies' Unsung Heroes and I hope this helps him get more recognition than he's accustomed to.

*Stats courtesy of:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/thtstats/main/player/1112/pedro-feliz
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=phi&playerID=150268&section1=1&section2=1&statSet2=1&section3=1&statSet3=1&statSet1=1

Love is...J-Roll's "Frozen Rope"

2009-06-15T22:37:00.005-04:00

I have no idea what a "freeze" means, or why it happens, but I thought it was hilarious that during Sunday's Boston Red Sox - Philadelphia Phillies game, in the 7th inning, Jimmy Rollins was given this "freeze" treatment after finally hitting a homerun. Rollins was going 0-for-the-series up to that point. The home run also gave the Phillies the lead and started a six run 7th inning that sealed the game for the Phils. What made it better was Rollins taking it in stride, playing along, giving high-fives to non-existent Phillies players and, to my recollection, giving the wink and gun to one, as well.

Too bad, you can't embed videos from MLB.com, so here's the link:

Screen Grab - Click the link to see Vid
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5051757

Love is...Mos Def killing it on two different Late Night shows

2009-06-12T16:38:00.003-04:00

My brother introduced me to these performances. I personally think rhyming while keeping a drum beat is not that easy (see David Letterman performance of "Quiet Mob") and admire Mos Def using a "Hey Jude" reference to explain his sample (see Jimmy Fallon performance of "Casa Bey").

Mos Def - "Quiet Dog" on David Letterman 6/8/09

Mos Def - "Casa Bey" on Jimmy Fallon 6/9/09

Links:
http://theaudioperv.com/ - Has many of the late night talk show performances on their site.
Mos Def's latest: The Ecstatic

Martha Wainwright and that "Bloody Mother Fuing Ahole"

2009-06-12T01:04:00.004-04:00

I first saw Martha Wainwright in New York City at the Beacon Theatre. I had journeyed to NYC to see The Swell Season and she was opening for them. It was bare, minimalist. Just her, a guitar and a microphone. Her set was actually the only I got to see fully, I had to leave an hour into TSS's set, as I had to catch the last train/bus home.

I wish there was some video of that performance because this song and that particular performance won me over. Her voice is so powerful and can express an emotion with a beautifully fluctuating range. I can't say I'm a fan or follower, per se, but if I pass by a Martha Wainwright song, since that night, I'd be more inclined to sit and listen.

Martha Wainwright - B.M.F.A. - November 10, 2007

If anyone has a better performance of that song, or a clip from that night in NYC with The Swell Season, please post it!

Listen to...Deaf Not Dead, Live @ Mojo 13, 12/13/2008

2009-06-11T00:22:00.003-04:00

Back in December, I shot an entire concert featuring five rock performances in honor of Christopher Tucker, a Delaware musician who died mid last year.

A couple of months ago, I uploaded the first song of Deaf Not Dead's set and labeled it, "The Constable's Always Right". A few days ago, however, I started editing a song and realized that the song I was working on was entitled..."The Constable's Always Right". Obviously, I mislabeled the first song and was quite embarrassed the error was left unchecked for two months.

But, the nice people of Deaf Not Dead (or the people in the band's publicity team), were good enough to provide a correct title for the first song. Not only that, it was an unreleased, untitled song, so they came up with one especially for my video.

Here are both songs as a thank you to the band. Please check them out!

Chris Tucker Tribute - Deaf Not Dead - Avarice in the Aviary - Rough Edit - Abbreviated

Chris Tucker Tribute - Deaf Not Dead - The Constable's Always Right - Rough Edit - Abbreviated

Deaf Not Dead sites:
http://www.myspace.com/deafnotdead
http://www.deafnotdead.net/

Zack Morris follow-up: Mark Paul Gosselaar on the "character"

2009-06-10T02:21:00.004-04:00

This one is kinda old, posted in September of last year, but it's sorta relevant to the recent Saved By the Bell/Zack Morris resurgence in pop culture. I found this interesting because Mark Paul Gosselaar speaks of Zack Morris and the other characters on the show as what they are: "characters". Gosselaar doesn't seem bitter, but grateful and understanding for the role that won him the love and appreciation of a young generation.

P.S. Kinda odd it's on YouTube page called "Mouthpiece Sports", in which most of their recent videos have been with baseball players. f:-\ Also, gotta dig the long hair.

Mark Paul Gosselaar on Being Zack Morris...or Not

Love is...Zack Morris on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

2009-06-09T13:49:00.004-04:00

By far, the best skit they've done for the Saved By the Bell reunion. Mark Paul Gosselaar commits pretty hard to being a grown up version of Zack Morris and doesn't crack up (even when Jimmy is during the "timeout"), all the more selling the segment. The only downside is his off-key high-pitched singing (which doesn't work as bad singing or comedy singing), but he already won us at "I am Zack Morris".

P.S. If only they could get ________'s voice in the cell phone scene. That would have put it over the top.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - Zack Morris Attacks LNWJF!

JRR4FILM'S To Do List - Week in Review 6/05/09

2009-06-05T23:25:00.006-04:00

Ransom Note Generator courtesy of http://strix.org.uk/ransom/
*For Entertainment Purposes Only

Other Thoughts:
Cheltenham Mall, UP, and Andy Samberg's Medley (feat. Forrest Whitaker)
First Re?uest
Jay Leno's Beautiful Legacy

Truth is...John Mayer's California Dreamin' on Conan

2009-06-05T23:03:00.004-04:00

JM is the truth. Simple as that. Watch him kill it with the Trio and the Los Angeles Children's Choir.

John Mayer Trio - California Dreamin' on Conan 6/4 (TheAudioPerv.com)

*Cover of "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & the Papas

For Your Consideration - Raul Ibanez Update!

2009-06-04T17:20:00.005-04:00

Click pic for full article on MLB.com!

I'm proud to say that since my first post on the matter, Raul Ibanez, as well as other Phillies, have climbed the charts to temporarily claim starting slots. That's not to say our job here is done. We need to continue to vote on MLB.com and ensure that they keep those slots!

Take a look at some of the standings:

2nd Base
RANK	PLAYER NAME	NL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Chase Utley	Phillies	1,111,963
2.	Orlando Hudson	Dodgers	486,359
3.	Rickie Weeks	Brewers	465,812
4.	Skip Schumaker	Cardinals	308,867
5.	Brandon Phillips	Reds	210,938

Outfield
RANK	PLAYER NAME	NL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Ryan Braun	Brewers	908,745
2.	Raul Ibanez	Phillies	817,849
3.	Alfonso Soriano	Cubs	775,319
4.	Carlos Beltran	Mets	741,875
5.	Manny Ramirez	Dodgers	635,530
6.	Mike Cameron	Brewers	533,923
7.	Shane Victorino	Phillies	517,760

RAUUUUUUUUL!!! From seventh to second!

Let's continue to vote and ensure a slot for Raul Ibanez, Phillies, Outfielder on the 2009 All Star Game Starting Lineup!

Love is...blondekel13, MikaelShort, or MikaelBelle - YouTube Find of the Day

2009-06-04T16:35:00.004-04:00

Confession: I do enjoy Broadway musicals. Back in the day, I discovered Rent while on Limewire or Napster, or whatever it was, and fell in love with the songs from that show without ever seeing it. Of course, that lead me to be severely
disappointed when finally seeing the movie and a production of the show in Philly, but I love the songs nonetheless.

I somehow really got into Sondheim. Company and Sunday in the Park with George were discovered close together, if not simultaneously. I sing Defying Gravity to my children and they always request it as we drive back and forth from their Mommy's. Both of them know most of the words and sing along with me.

Anywho... so, on one of my Broadway song searches on YouTube (or was it Karaoke, that could be another blog), I stumbled across this beautiful voice (pictured left). I believe it was a Legally Blonde song, but I offer you these two examples of her talent:

WSS: Somewhere - Live cover

...and this one is a fun one. Cute and bubbly, I'd say!

Honey Honey - Duet w/Chesca

Links:
http://www.youtube.com/blondekel13
http://www.youtube.com/MikaelShort (from which these vids are from)
http://www.youtube.com/MikaelBelle

P.S. She's also running a singing contest on her channel. That's what I'm talking about!

Love and Thought is...John Mayer and his Battle Studies Vids

2009-06-03T13:35:00.003-04:00

I don't have much time to go into full commentary or analysis, but John Mayer, my favorite musician, has been releasing behind the scenes videos for the past few months chronicling his songwriting process as he works on his new album, Battle Studies.

His latest video is shot and executed with an eye of an accomplished and thoughtful filmmaker. It doesn't really have any behind the scenes of creating music, per se (with the exception of a shot of John Mayer performing and the acoustic piano soundtrack in the background), and I don't know if it's all John Mayer doing it himself, but still very, very impressive.

Battle Studies Video n. 3

Check out and follow his other videos (as of today, two previous Battle Studies video, more focused on the music-making process) at http://www.youtube.com/mayermusic

Love is...The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

2009-06-02T11:46:00.004-04:00

Last night, Conan O'Brien premiered his version of The Tonight Show. It's a little early to gauge how the show will be, especially since this one was jam packed. But this Conan O'Brien looks classier, more confident, and still hilarious. I think Conan has adapted (or will adapt, let's see his recurring characters) his brand of comedy just fine to the glossy, high production values and expectations of the Tonight Show franchise.

I look forward to checking out The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien every night I can. It's healthier than following Jimmy Fallon every night. ... :-\

Here are my favorite bits from the show:

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Cold Open of the First Show

Universal Studios - Conan Style

Hooray for Hollywoo ...

Some Thoughts...Over the Weekend (5/29-5/31)

2009-06-01T17:31:00.008-04:00

It's the first Monday coming off a weekend, and I have a lot of thoughts to give you. I already posted about The Legacy Clip and my "First Re?uest", but here are some short snippets from my brain over the past weekend. I may or may not elaborate before the end of this week:

"I was impressed by the new Cheltenham Mall..."

"Wow, I should've watched the MTV Movie Awards...the Lonely Island tribute was brilliant!"

Andy Samberg Medley

New Music - More Music Videos

"Disney/Pixar's "Up" was half brilliant and the other half was overshadow by previously mentioned half's aforementioned brilliance."

"First Re?uest" - A Scene in the Life of JRR4FILM

2009-06-01T17:05:00.018-04:00

FADE IN:

INT - JRR4FILM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

JRR4FILM, an ordinary Asian male, 23, sits at his computer, less than enthused, checking his Twitter page with a bit of complacency.

JRR4FILM
Yeah, yeah. I get it, a lot of people say Oh, Snap.

His hand goes to refresh the page...

...and JRR4FILM looks at the screen, surprised.

JRR4FILM clicks on one of the links.

A beat as the screen pops up.

JRR4FILM
Oh, shit!
(beat)
Sweet!

JRR4FILM's face lights up.

He has just received his first reply from Questlove on Twitter, the drummer from The Roots, whose musical talent and prowess are beyond compare.

JRR4FILM tries to play it cool as we close in on the profile pic of Questlove:

FADE OUT

http://twitter.com/questlove/status/19687344557

Love is...Jay Leno's Legacy

2009-06-01T16:58:00.002-04:00

Just watch it, if you haven't. If you have, watch it again. Jay Leno reveals what he thinks is his "legacy" on the Tonight Show on his last night as host.

The Tonight Show - The Legacy Clip

JRR4FILM's To Do List - Week in Review 5/29/09

2009-05-30T01:15:00.011-04:00

Next week Preview: The Tonight Show Legacy shot (Beautiful!)

Saved by the Bell Reunion [Re: Love Is...Lick it for Ten (LNwJF)]

2009-05-29T10:08:00.005-04:00

Regarding the previous post's comment mentioning the Saved by the Bell reunion campaign, here's a nice marriage of the AWESOME idea and Jimmy Fallon's brand of comedy.

***Click pic to sign the online petition!

Save the Saved by the Bell Reunion

Here's a link to the 3rd part of "Save the Max" for comparison (check around the 5 or 6 minute mark):

Saved by the bell save the max part 3
by patrick9107

UPDATE: I signed!

Love is...Lick It for Ten (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

2009-05-28T23:04:00.008-04:00

If you're not a fan of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, what distinguishes it from other late night shows is the dork/nerd quality to many of the sketches or segments added along to a unique guest/audience interaction.

Take, for example, LICK IT FOR TEN, which I do believe was one of the first, if not the first, audience competition segments of the show. Here, Jimmy explains the game:

Typical intro to Lick It for Ten

Gotta love that live theme song (supplied by the Legendary Roots Crew)! Anyways, the items normally are ordinary house items, but recently they've been changing it up a bit. Here's a notable example:

Whoa, mama!

Now that I've gathered my senses, let me warn you, they're not always hot or appealing. (A middle aged man and a feather duster comes to mind) Most of the time, it is quite ordinary and awkward, but that's the fun in watching it!

Below are some of my favorites:

Drew Barrymore licks a pink bowling ball

Sarah from Chattanooga

Jennifer and Brian (from "Dirty Jersey") Perform a "Two-Licker"

Love is anarkeemcpablog - YouTube Find of the Day

2009-05-27T20:23:00.007-04:00

Do you remember Julia Nunes? The sweet Ukelele player who ended up opening for Ben Folds due to one of her YouTube covers?

Well, here's a male counterpart, Ariel (REL, "not the mermaid") who covers a nice range of music, mostly hip-hop, but has some Adele and Miley Cyrus (don't know about that one) in the mix. Technically speaking, not as dynamic and on point as Nunes can be, but the love of music shines through and sometimes, I relate more to that than technical prowess:

Adele - Chasing Pavements

Here is an ambitious video: a nearly 9-minute medley of the entire 808's album (minus the bonus song..."Pinnochio story goes...")

Kanye West's 808's & Heartbreaks by Ariel P!

P.S. Great job on the professional titling. That's how you do!

For Your Consideration: Raul Ibanez is an All Star

2009-05-27T15:47:00.004-04:00

I'm not the biggest MLB fan, but it doesn't take an expert to know that 17 Home Runs, 44 RBIs, a .347 Batting Average and a diligent work ethic is deserving of a spot on the All Star roster. And, yet, the early rankings for the all star voting is in:

1.	Ryan Braun	Brewers	663,164
2.	Alfonso Soriano	Cubs	545,354
3.	Carlos Beltran	Mets	476,843
4.	Manny Ramirez	Dodgers	442,763
5.	Mike Cameron	Brewers	432,034
6.	Raul Ibanez	Phillies	399,969

My question: How in the world is a man who's been suspended for using a banned substance and has missed a majority of the first half of the season (ahem, Ramirez, ahem, no offense Ms. Milano) leading the league leader in HRs and an all-around great player.

Come on, peoples! You better recognize the beast that is Raul Ibanez. He goes out there with furrowed, focused brow, never indulgent in the praise and chants of "Rauuuuuul!" that is showered upon him from Right Field, and gets the job done, night after night.

Now, if there are any MLB fans reading this, please rectify this situation and vote for:

Raul Ibanez, Phillies, Outfield, National League.

...25 times, please! (You get three choices in the outfield. He deserves to be one)

Link: VOTE FOR THE 2009 MLB ALL STAR GAME!!!

Link: Ibanez's nice play against the Yankees helps get Johnny Damon out at the plate

Link: Ibanez homers three times in one day

Truth and Emotion is Ben Folds - "Kylie from Connecticut" Connects

2009-05-26T23:53:00.001-04:00

"Kylie from Connecticut is a beautifully difficult and honest song from Ben Folds. Masterful storytelling thru music and lyric." - Recent Tweet from me

An emotionally stirring song from his Way to Normal record, Ben Folds captures realization of an apparently married (or at least unavailable) woman who may be experiencing a recurrence of feelings for a forbidden love, a man who left a message with her via "his assistant".

It starts as a perfect spark: "just a thought" How true is it that a spark is all it takes? A note from his assistant. Is the "man" Kylie's boss? Just a businessman who sent a letter via his assistant? But, whatever the case, the point is the message was vague enough, open-ended enough, and out-of-the-blue enough to spark "just a thought" in Kylie's mind.

Ben Folds basically reveals the ending within the hook, as Kylie calls from Connecticut, but as the song progresses, so does the realization of the listener that Kylie's situation, though you may empathize with, is unsympathetic.

We learn in the 2nd verse that Kylie is a married woman of "35 years" who had a one night stand "when the children was small". After the second hook, the music lingers and crescendoes, without words, as Kylie continues to dive into her long-lost fantasies. The last verse depicts Kylie fully indulging in every love letter, picture with the former lover, a sad and secret fantasy, and is now awaiting a reply from him.

"Now she closes her eyes." No more resisting, fake-believing that it is all wrong and should not happened. All that just added fuel to the temptation, which is now a fiery blaze in her mind.

For someone who treasures the commitment and sacred value of marriage, this is disturbing. Also, from someone who has experienced the pain and hurt from losing a loved one who gave into similar temptations, it particularly hits me at home.

However, it is reality. It is life. Nothing is perfect, and knowing that becomes a kind of unsettling catharsis. Ben Folds composes and performs it knowing that the thoughts are inherently wrong, but at the same time, inherently human. It is a lament for a natural flaw and a call for hope that we can be better than that.

Below Lyrics from http://www.thesuburbs.org.uk/lyrics/Kylie_from_Connecticut

Kylie from Connecticut

Original Artist: Ben Folds

It's just a thought
But where did it come from?
What does she do with it if it comes back?
A note from his assistant
There by the telephone
Wonders again as she turns out the light

Kylie
is calling from Connecticut
She says you've got the number
It said Kylie
is calling from Connecticut
It's still on her mind as she closes her eyes

She believes there are things you shouldn't know about
when you've been married for 35 years
and her heart belongs to a man that she hadn't seen
since a magical night when the children were small

But Kylie is calling from Connecticut
She says you've got the number
It said Kylie
is calling from Connecticut
It's on her mind as she closes her eyes

Kylie is calling from Connecticut
It's probably nothing, yeah, nothing at all
It said Kylie
is calling from Connecticut
It keeps coming back as she's reading old letters
that she left in the closet with the pictures she cherished
that she kept to herself for a good 30 years
Now she closes her eyes.

Joe R. is JRR4FILM

2009-05-26T23:46:00.000-04:00

Welcome! Here is a quickly devised blog to express some thoughts on film, music, art, life, etc. Thanks for your interest and support and I hope you enjoy!

Let's talk, shall we?